Cattle marker



March 28, 1944. I sc c 2,345,293

CATTLE MARKER Filed Sept. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 28, 1944. w F, Q C T 2,345,293

AAAAAAAAAA ER Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,345,291? CATTLE- MARKER William F. Schacht, Huntington, Ind. Application September 1, 1943, Serial No. 500,819

19 Claims.

This invention is a novel combined cattle marker and. muzzle chain adapted to be readily applied. as a horn chain marker to cattle, particularly dangerous lbulls, so that farmers, herdsmen or breeders can readily identify same, and whereby same may be handled, controlled, or restrained; the present invention being an improvement upon the markers shown in my copending applications Serial No. 482,749 filed April 12, 1943; and Serial No. 486,221 filed May 8, 1943.

One object of the present invention is to provide a marker comprising a chain adapted to encircle the horns of the animal, one end of the chain carrying an initially open hook adapted to be engaged with a link adjacent the other end of the chain before the open eye is closed to lock theends of the chain around the horns of the animal in a substantially permanent manner; and a marker plate having an integral shank rolled to form one or more eyes being engaged in one link of the chain whereby the marker plate will be permanently secured to the chain, and a ring being tightly clamped in the eye or eyes normally overlying the back of the marker plate, and a muzzle chain having one end secured in the said ring and its other end secured in the usual nose ring with which cattle, particularly dangerous bulls, are equipped, the muzzle chain being disposed centrally of the muzzle of the-animal in a' position in which it is easy for the farmer or herdsman to grab and hold the chain to control or restrain the animal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marker of the above typein which the plate is provided with an integral shank rolled to form I one or more eyes secured in a link of the horn chain; the ring however being omitted from the eyes of the plate and in :place thereof the plate having an opening adjacent its lower end into which the upper end of the muzzle chain is secured.

A further object of the invention is to provide amarker plate of the above type which serves not only to properly identify the animal but also serves to position the upper end of the muzzle chain; also the ring or the corresponding opening formed in the marker plate itself serves to receive a halter strap snap thereby obviating the use of the usual expensive leather halter with which cattle are customarily equipped.

A still further object of the invention is to :provide a marker utilizing a horn chain of the above type and also a muzzle chain, but the plate is preferably formed of fibre and has a hole adjacent its upper edge, a double link having one eye 55 engaged in the opening in. the plate and the other eye engaging a-.link:in the horn chain, and the-- upper end of. the muzzle chain being also engaged in: the plate engaging eye of the double link,v thus providing a combined marker plate and muzzle chain of simplified light construction.

Other-minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I- will explain theinvention withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several practical embodiments thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction and novel combinations of. parts,.for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig". 1- is a view showing one form of my novel combined horn marker: and muzzle chain applied to-the head of abull equipped with a nose ring.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the combined horn marker and muzzle, detached from the bulls head but showingthe arrangement of chains, eyes, and ring engaged in the rolled eyes of the plate.

Fig; 3 is an. enlarged vertical section through the-plate and adjacent parts, taken on the line 3'--3; Fig-2.

' Fig. 41s: a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified. ,formof combined horn marker and muzzle chain, in which the ring is omitted, an opening in the plate being provided to serve the same purpose.

Fig.- 5 -is-. an: enlarged vertical section through the plate, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig; fi isavplan view of a modified simpler form of combined cattle marker and muzzle chain.

Fig 7 is an enlarged vertical section through the plate and adjacent parts taken on the line I 'I,.Fig.. 6;

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the marker plate la. is provided with an integral shankv l'b having spaced tongues rolled to form a pair of spaced eyes lc, said plate carrying on its front face indicia. such asl for properly identifying or classifying, the particular animal. Shank Ibis offset rearwardly of the plane of the plate and securely mounted inthe. spaced eyes lc thereof is a ring 2 which may serveto receive the snap (not shown) of a halterstrap whereby the marker plate will serve notonly to identify the animal but will also serve in place of the usualexpensive leather halter with which cattle are customarily equipped.

The horn chain 3 preferably comprises a length of twisted chain having a closable open hook 4 at one end. One link 3:; of twisted chain 3 adjacent hook 4 is flattened, and said link 3a is engaged in the spaced eyes Ic of plate la above ring 2, the eyes lc being mashed tightly against the ring 2 and link 3a to maintain the ring against swinging movement. The flattened link 3a will cause the plate I to lie flatly upon the animal's forehead. The portion of ring 2 that passes through eyes is is preferably flat, and the portions beyond thelouter .side edgesof: the eyes are bent sharply downward to keep the eyes lc gage the outer tips of the rolled eyes to prevent 'from spreading axially. On the base of the shank, lb are knobs or projections Id adapted to,en-,

opening of the eyes due to pulls on thechain or to a downward pull on the halter strap receiving ring 2.

Split link 4 of chain 3 is engageablein any of the links adjacent the other end of the chain whereby the chain loop ma be adjusted to suit the distance between the horns of the animal, it being merely necessary for the farmeror herdsman when applying the marker'assembly to the animal to pass the chain 3 around the horns of the animal and secure the split link 4 in the proper link of thechain 3, and thereafter close the link 4 by applying pressure with pliers or the like, thereby fastening in-a substantially permanent manner the marker'around the'horns of the animal. As the animal grows however, the split link 4 may be opened and applied in a different link of chain 3 to increase the size of the chain loop,-' I A muzzle chain 5 is also provided,'having a split link 6 at its upper end locked in the ring 2, the muzzle chain 5 passing downwardly centrally of the muzzle of the animal and having a split link I at its lower end which may be locked in the nose ring 8 anchored in the flesh of the animal's nose in the usual manner, or the lower end of the muzzle chain 5 may be looped through the nose ring and its outer end locked by link 1 in one of the links of the chain above the nose ring 8, thus allowing for adjust-ability of the muzzle chain to suit the size and shape of the animal's head, the muzzle chain-maintaining the horn chain 3 taut so that the horn chain 3 cannot be slipped over the horns of the animal which are often short. When thus applied to the animal the device not only servesjas a, horn marker therefor but also serves as a muzzle chain permitting the farmer or herdsman to handle the animal with safety since he can readily or easily grip the muzzle chain 5 which has its lower end anchored in the nose ring 8, the muzzle chain being obviously much easier to slip or grasp than the nose ring 8 itself 'when'itflis desired to'control or restrain the animal. Sincethe nose ring 8 and the halter strap receiving ring 2 are rela-' tively large the muzzle chain 5 may have movement laterally of the muzzle of the animal, thereby preventing chafing or irritation of the skin or flesh of the muzzle.

Since the eyes lc of plate la are mashed tightly against the ring 2, plate la will not be permitted to swing upwardly when applied to the animal, but is maintained in a fixed position sub stantially parallel with the ring 2, leaving sufficient space between the ring 2 and plate la to'permit link 6 to work freely from side to side of ring2; and similarly the lower end of the muzzle chain 5 may work freely in the nose ring 8. Due to offsetting of the eyes lc any downward pull on muzzle chain 5 will react on the heaviest part of the shank lb and the eyes lc will remain closed.

The assembly in the form shown in Fig. 2 would be delivered to the herdsman or oattleman and in applying same to the animal all that it is necessary to do is to insert the initially open links 4 and 6 of horn chain 3 and muzzle chain 5 in the proper links of the respective chains, and then close the said links, thereby securing in a substantially permanent manner the device to the animals head, the split links providing however for adjustment in size as the animal grows. When so locked the marker plate la will lie flat on the animal's head, and the muzzle chain 5 which is locked in the halter receiving ring 2 and nose ring 8 will be disposed centrally of the muzzle of the animal. The split link I at thelower end of the muzzle chain 5 may be hooked into the nose ring 8 or looped through the nose ring 8 and then engaged in a proper link in the adjacent portion of the muzzle chain above the nose ring 8, thus providing for 'ad-' instability of the muzzle chain to suit the size or shape of the animals head. In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, similar parts are similarly lettered. In this modi fication however the halter strap receiving ring2 is omitted, and in place thereof the plate lais provided with a substantially semicircular lower edge and has provided therein a substantially semi-circular opening le adapted to receive the halter strap snap, and also receiving the link 6 of muzzle chain 5; otherwise the combined cattle marker and muzzle chain functions and serves the same purpose as above described in connection with the modification shown in Figs. 1 to In Figs. 6 and 7 a simpler form of my novel combined cattle marker and muzzle chain is i1- lustrated, the same consisting of the same horn chain 3 having the split link 4. In place of the metallic marker plate Ia bearing the indicia and provided with integral eyes as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, an indicia plate [0 of durable material such as fibre or the like may be used having a hole I 0a adjacent its upper edge. A double link. H

has one eye'lla engaged in hole Illa and the other eye II b locked in link 3a of horn chain 3. The upper end of muzzle chain 5 is also looked in the eye Ila of the double link II which engages the hole la in the plate I0. This modification is a simplified construction but however serves the same purpose as the modifications shown in the preceding figures; and as the eye I la of the double link II is mashed tightly over the plate I 0 and the link at the upper end'of the muzzle chain 5 the plate I0 will not be permitted to swing upwardly when applied to the animal.

While in Figs. 1 to 5 the marker plates I a are shown as provided with a pair of spaced eyes I c forming the links, obviously a single eye may be used in place of the double eyes, the single eye being formed by a tongue or shank extending from the edge of the plate. Also straight link chains 3 and 5 may be used instead of twisted chains. I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims. I

I claim: 1. A combined cattle marker and muzzle chain for livestock having spaced horns and having nose rings, comprising a horn chain adapted to encircle the spaced horns of the animal and having a split link at one end adapted to engage a link of the chain adjacent the other end; a marker plate having a split link engaged in a link of the horn chain and adapted to overlie the forehead of the animal; and a muzzle chain adapted to overlie the muzzle of the animal and having its upper end connected to said plate and its lower end secured in the nose ring.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said horn chain having twisted links, and said link receiving said plate link being flattened.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said muzzle chain having a split link at its lower end to lock the chain in the nose ring.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said upper end of the muzzle chain having a split link engaged in an opening in the plate.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said upper end of the muzzle chain being engaged in the split link of the plate.

6. A combined cattle marker and muzzle chain for animals having spaced horns and having nose rings, comprising a horn chain adapted to encircle the spaced horns of the animal and having a split link at one end adapted to engage a link of the chain adjacent the other end; a marker plate having a hole adjacent its upper end; a double link having one eye engaged in said hole and its other eye engaged in a link of the chain; said plate being adapted to overlie the forehead of the animal; and a muzzle chain adapted to overlie the muzzle of the animal, and having its upper end secured to the hole engaging eye of said double link, and its lower end secured in said nose ring.

7. In a device as set forth in claim 6, said horn chain having twisted links and said link receiving said plate hook being flattened.

8. In a device as set'forth in claim 6, said muzzle chain having a split link at its lower end to lock the chain in the nose ring.

9. In a device as set forth in claim 6, said hole engaging eye of the double hook being mashed closed on said plate and upper link of the muzzle chain, to prevent the plate from swinging upwardly in said eye.

10. A combined cattle marker and muzzle chain for livestock having spaced horns and having nose rings, comprising a horn chain adapted to encircle the spaced horns of the animal and having a split link at one end adapted to engage a link of the chain adjacent the other end; a marker plate having one or more integral eyes at its upper edge engaged in a link of the chain and adapted to overlie the forehead of the animal; said plate having a relatively large opening therein adjacent its lower edge; and a muzzle chain adapted to overlie the muzzle of the animal, and having its upper end secured in said opening of the plate and its lower and secured in said nose ring.

11. In a device as set forth in claim 10, sad horn chain having twisted links, and said link receiving said plate eye or eyes being flattened.

12. In a device as set forth in claim 10, said muzzle chain having a split link at its lower end to lock the chain in the nose ring.

13. In a device as set forth in claim it, means on the plate for resisting opening of the eyes.

14. A combined cattle marker and muzzle chain for livestock having spaced horns and having nose rings, comprising a horn chain adapted to encircle the spaced horns of the animal and having a split link at one end adapted to engage a link of the chain adjacent the other end; a marker plate having one or more integral eyes at its upper edge engaged in a link of the chain and adapted to overlie the forehead of the animal; a ring mounted in the eye or eyes and normally overlying the back of the plate; and a muzzle chain adapted to overlie the muzzle of the animal, and having its upper end secured in said ring and its lower end secured in said nose ring.

15. In a device as set forth in claim 14, said horn chain having twisted links, and said link receiving said plate eye or eyes being flattened.

16. In a device as set forth in claim 14, said muzzle chain having a split link at its .lower end to lock the plate in the nose ring.

17. In a device as set forth in claim 14, said eye or eyes of the plate being mashed closed on said horn chain link and ring to hold the ring in fixed spaced relation to the plate.

18. In a device as set forth in claim 14, means on the plate for resisting opening of the eyes.

19. In a device as set forth in claim 14, said ring having a straight portion embraced by the eyes, and having its portions adjacent the outer edges of the eyes bent sharply to prevent separation of the eyes axially.

WILLIAM F. SCI-IACHT. 

